Tongue and groove insulated panels and demountable barrier construction thereof



Mmh 12, 1968 E. E. HENSEL 3,372,520

- TONGUE AND GROOVE INSULATED PANELS AND DEMOUNTABLE BARRIER CONSTRUCTION THEREOF Filed July l9, 19ers s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR v Erich E.v Hansel ATTORNEYS 3,372,520 ABLE March 12; 1968 E. E. HENSEL TONGUE AND GROOVE INSULATED PANELS AND DEMOUNT BARRIER CONSTRUCTION THEREOF 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July :19, 1965 I Fl llllllrllll INVENTOR Erich E. Hens/ B fiumqfi Mew ATTORNEYS March 12, 1968 I E. E. HENSEL 3,372,520

TONGUE AND GROOVE INSULATED PANELS AND DEMOUNTABLE I BARRIER CONSTRUCTION THEREOF Filed July 19. 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 "-'-\/\\$y III V INVENTOR Erich E. Hense/ ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,372,520 TONGUE AND GROOVE INSULATED PANELS AND DEMOUNTABLE BARKER CONSTRUC- TIGN THEREGF Erich E. Hensel, The Hague, Netherlands, assignor to Hunter Douglas International Ltd., Montreal, Quebec, Canada, a corporation of Canada Filed July 19, 1965, Ser. No. 473,067 Claims priority, application Netherlands, July 24, 1964, 64-8540 8 Claims. (Cl. 52-483) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Building elements which are assemblable with each other to form walls, ceilings, etc., comprising spaced apart skins having a filling therebetween, one longitudinal end of each element having a double U-shaped insert gripped between said skins and said skins at the other longitudinal end of each element being formed as longitudinally extending tongues which are engageably receivable Within groove portion of said double U-shaped insert in an adjoining one of said elements, said assemblage being effected by the use of carriers having fastening members which rotate to engage said grooves thereby clamping said building elements to said carriers.

This invention relates to a bulding element comprising an inner skin and an outer skin and a filling located between these two skins and also relates to a wall, ceiling, partition or similar building construction or a lining therefor respectively, which has been manufactured by means of such building elements.

The invention aims at providing amongst others building elements of sturdy construction which may easily and rapidly be mounted and with which it is possible to obtain in a simple manner an adjustment of the building elements transversely to their longitudinal direction.

This is accomplished with the building element according to the invention in that one longitudinal side of said building element is provided with an insert consisting of a broad central portion of U-shaped cross-section of which the legs each merge at their end via a transverse portion into a strip, said strips being shorter than the legs of said U-shaped central portion and situated outwardly therefrom, so that each forms a groove with the respective leg of the central portion, longitudinal rim portions of the inner and outer skin gripping around said strips, whereas at the other side of each building element the substantially parallel longitudinal rims of the inner and outer skin are recessed inwardly and extend at a distance from each other which is equal or substan tially equal to the outer dimension of the central portion of the insert located at the other longitudinal side so as to engage in the two said grooves of an adjacent element. The filling located between the inner and the outer skin may consist for example of glass wool, foam plastic or some other suitable material to which, if required, flame-retardant additives are added which do not affect the thermal and mechanical properties of the filler material. The inner and the outer skin preferably consists of sheet metal, for example of a lacquer-coated aluminum. The insert may consist of a plastics material of stable shape, metal or some other suitable material and is preferably manufactured from hard polyvinyl chloride.

In order to support the portions of the inner and outer skin projecting beyond the filling said filling may extend between part of the recesses longitudinal rims of the inner and outer skin, which also enhances the insulating property.

The central portion and the recessed longitudinal rims projecting beyond the filling are preferably of such length that two interconnected building elements are transversely adjustable relative to each other. The central portion of the insert and the longitudinal rims projecting beyond the filling are thereby of such length that two adjacent building elements engaging each other are transversely adjustable relative to each other while maintaining the engagement.

The element may have in cross-section a sharply bent or curved section. The two longitudinal sides thereof may be constructed in the same manner as the two longitudinal sides of a normal element. Thus the advantage is obtained that no specially constructed corner elements are necessary. With the aid of these corner elements it is possible to form very simple re-entering as well as salient angles in the building construction by turning the element over about its transverse axis.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provide-d a wall, ceiling, partition or similar construction or lining therefor formed with building elements according to the invention, which by means of fastening members are secured to stringers or some other carrier constructions arranged parallel to said elements so that the pojecting longitudinal rim portions of the inner and outer skin of one building element engage with the legs of the central portion of the insert of the longitudinal rim of the other building element, clamping plates or similar fastening members being provided which are rotatably arranged in the stringers or carrier construction, said clamping plates being in engagement With the grooves of the insert of one building element adjacent to the carrier and clamping said building element to the stringers or carrier construction. In the groove located at the other side of the building element a sealing strip or sealing material may be provided.

It is preferred that in the stringers o-r carrier construction adjustment slots for the clamping plates or similar fastening members are provided which extend transversely relative to the building elements. These adjustment slots may be provided preferably in at least two rows, the slots of one row overlapping the slots of the other row.

The fastening member may consist of a round head with a projecting clamping plate of which the width is at most equal to the diameter of the head. The head of the fastening member may comprise a projection safeguarding said fastening member against rotation, said projection entering the adjustment slot in question, when a bolt engaging said head is tightened, before said bolt fixes the clamping plate. As a consequence of the fact that the projection is located in the corresponding adjustment slot the fastening member may slide, prior to the tightening of the bolt, in the corresponding adjustment slot, therefore in the transverse direction of the panels, but the fastening member cannot rctaite when being moved.

The invention will be further explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings showing by way of example an embodiment of part of a wall manufactured with the aid of building elements according to the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a cross-section of a wall portion in which a part of two building elements are shown, these being located at the largest adjustable distance from one another.

'FIG, 2 shows a cross section of said wall portion in which the two building elements are located at the smallest adjustable distance.

FIG. 3 is a section taken along the line III-III in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a section taken along the line IVIV in FIG. 2.

FIG. shows a section through a wall portion including a corner profile.

FIG. 6 shows a clamping plate in perspective.

The wall portion shown in the drawings comprises building elements 1 each consisting of an outer skin 2 and inner skin 3 between which there is provided a filling 4 of a stiff foam plastics material adhering thereto, for example polyurethane, glass wool or some other suitable material to which, if required, flame-retardant additives are added which do not affect the thermal and mechanical properties of the filler material. These building elements are fastened to profiled stringers 5 of Z-shaped cross-section by means of fastening members 6, 7, 8 which may rotate on the stringers. These fastening members each consist of a clamping plate 8 with a round head 6. In a threaded aperture of the head a bolt 7 is arranged. With the aid of the bolt 7 the clamping plate 8 may be rotated from the position 9 shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 2, into the position shown in full lines in which the clamping plate clampingly secures the building element 1 to the stringer 5. In order to be completely released the width of the clamping plate 8 does not exceed the diameter of the round head 6.

The bolt 7 is passed through a slot 10 of the stringer 5, so that it may be moved relative to the stringer 5 for adjustment purposes. In order to obtain an unlimited possibility for adjustment along the entire length of the stringer, the latter is provided with two rows of slots, the slots 10 and 11 of these two rows overlapping each other.

Each building element 1 is provided at one longitudinal side with an insert 12, 13, 21 comprising a U-shaped central portion 13 enveloping part of the filling 4, the legs of the central portion each being connected at their end by a transverse portion 12 with a strip 21, the strips being shorter than the legs of the U-shaped central portion 13 and each forming a groove 17 or 18 respectively with the corresponding leg of the central portion 13. A longitudinal rim portion of the outer skin 2 or of the inner skin 3 respectively is bent around the strips 21. At the other longitudinal side of each building element 1 the longitudinal rims of the outer skin 2 and of the inner skin 3 project beyond the filling 4, said projecting longitudinal rim portions 15, 16 being located at such a distance from one another that said longitudinal rim portions 15, 16 of the thus constructed longitudinal side of a building element may be slipped more or less far on the central portion 13 of the insert after which the adjusted building element is firmly clamped to the stringer by means of the fastening members 6, 7, 8. For this purpose the rim portion of the outer skin 2 and the inner skin 3 has been recessed in inward direction. In order to reinforce the portions 15 and 16 the filling 4 extends along part of their length.

The legs of the central portion 13 of the insert and the portions 15 and 16 projecting beyond the filling are of such length that in the position in which the portions 15, 16 are slipped farthest onto the legs of the central portion 13 there remains a sufiiciently large space 17 for rotation of the clamping plate -8 and a sufficiently large space 22 for accommodating the rotation of the part 6 of each of the fastening members 6, 7, 8. In order to enable an adjustment in transverse direction relative to each other of two adjacent elements it is furthermore necessary to provide an intermediate space 14 between the end of the central portion 13 of the insert and the filling located between the projecting parts 15 and 16.

In the groove 18 there may be provided for sealing purposes a sealing strip, for example a plastic putty 19 or a hollow elastic profile 20 of neoprene or suchlike material.

For the purpose of being fastened to the carrier structure the stringers are provided with apertures 23.

FIG. 5 is a cross-section of a wall portion including a building element forming a corner profile. As is apparent from this figure the longitudinal sides of this element are i constructed in the same way as the longitudinal sides of the represented flat building elements. This corner profile is suitable both for a corner with a salient and a re-entering angle. It is for this purpose only necessary to turn the corner profile over an angle of about its transverse axis. Such angle profiles may be manufactured according to any predetermined angle. It is likewise possible to manufacture the building element to provide a bent shape.

In the mounting of the building elements, the first building element or a corner profile is put in place and is clamped lightly to the stringers 5 by means of fastening members 6, 7, 8 which for this purpose are pushed with their heads against the stringers. Thereafter the projecting longitudinal rim portions 15, 16 of a second element are slipped so far on the central portion 13 of the insert or the central portion 13 of said insert is slipped so far between both projecting longitudinal rim portions 15, 16 as to position the two building elements in the correct way with respect to one another, whereupon the fastening members 6, 7, 8 are tightened to such an extent that the clamping plates 8 thereof firmly hold the two elements. The next element is each time mounted in the same way. After the manufacture of the wall, ceiling, partition or suchlike building construction or the lining therefor respectively an additional adjustment may be effected if this is found to be necessary. For this purpose the clamping plates need only be loosened and after adjustment may be tightened again. Since the clamping plate is not wider than the diameter of the head of the clamping member one building element or some building elements simply may be removed after the clamping plates have been turned aside, for example for replacement and the like.

As is apparent from FIG. 6 the head of the fastening members 6, 7, 8 shown therein comprises an oblong projection 24 which, upon tightening of the bolt 7, enters the corresponding slot 10 or 11 of a stringer 5. Once said projection is located in the slot, the fastening member may be moved in said slot but it cannot be rotated. Consequently it may be easily moved into place and the bolt 7 then tightened.

It is obvious that with the building elements according to the invention it is possible to manufacture outer walls as well as inner walls and linings therefor.

I claim:

1. A building construction such as a wall, ceiling, partitron or the like formed with building elements comprismg an inner skin and an outer skin and a filling between these two skins, one longitudinal side of said building element being provided with an insert consisting of a broad central portion of U-shaped cross-section of which the legs each merge at their end via a transverse portion into a strip, said strips being shorter than the legs of said U- shaped central portion and situated outwardly therefrom so that each forms a groove with the respective leg of the central portion, longitudinal rim portions of the inner and outer skin gripping around said strips, whereas at the other side of each building element the substantrally parallel longitudinal rims of the inner and outer skm are recessed inwardly and extend at a distance from each other which is equal or substantially equal to the outer dimension of the central portion of the insert located at the other longitudinal side, so as to engage in the two said grooves of an adjacent element, said buildmg elements being secured by means of fastening members to a carrier construction, such as stringers, arranged transversely to said elements, the projecting longitudinal rim portions of the inner and outer skin of one building element engaging with the legs of the central portion of the longitudinal rim of the other building element, fastening members being provided which are rotatably arranged in the carrier construction, said fastening members being in engagement with the groove of the insert of one building element adjacent to the carrier construction and clamping said building element to said carrier construction.

2. A building construction such as a wall, ceiling, partition or the like formed with building elements comprising an inner skin and an outer skin and a filling between these two skins, one longitudinal side of said building element being provided with an insert consisting of a broad central portion of U-shaped cross-section of which the legs each merge at their end via a transverse portion into a strip, said strips being shorter than the legs of said U-shaped central portion and situated outwardly therefrom so that each forms a groove with the respective leg of the central portion, longitudinal rim portions of the inner and outer skin gripping around said strips, whereas at the other side of each building element the substantially parallel longitudinal rims of the inner and outer skin are recessed inwardly and extend at a distance from each other which is equal or substantially equal to the outer dimension of the central portion of the insert located at the other longitudinal side, so as to engage in the two said grooves of an adjacent element, said building elements being secured by means of fastening members to a carrier construction, such as stringers, arranged transversely to said elements, the projecting longitudinal rim portions of the inner and outer skin of one building element engaging with the legs of the central portion of the longitudinal rim of the other building element, fastening members being provided which are rotatably arranged in the carrier construction, said fastening members being in engagement with the groove of the insert of one building element adjacent to the carrier construction and clamping said building element to said carrier construction, a sealing strip being arranged in each of the grooves located at the other side of the building elements.

3. A building construction according to claim 2, wherein in the stringers or carrier construction adjustment slots for the clamping plates or similar fastening members are provided.

4. A building construction according to claim 2, wherein in the stringers or carrier construction adjustment slots for the clamping plates or similar fastening members are provided, the adjustment slots for the fastening means being arranged in at least two rows and the slots of one row overlapping the slots of the other row.

5. A building construction according to claim 2, wherein in the stringers or carrier construction adjustment slots for the clamping plates or similar fastening members are provided, the fastening members having a round head with a projecting clamping plate of which the width is at most equal to the diameter of the head.

6. A building construction according to claim 2, wherein in the stringers or carrier construction adjustment slots for the clamping plates or similar fastening members are provided, the fastening members having a round head with a projecting clamping plate of which the width is at most equal to the diameter of the head, said fastening members including a projection safeguarding said fastening members against rotation, each of said projections entering the adjustment slot in question when a bolt engaging said head is tightened before said bolt fixes the clamping plate.

7. A building element comprising an inner skin and an outer skin and a filling between these two skins, one longitudinal side of said building element being provided with an insert having a broad central portion of U-shaped cross section and two strips substantially parallel to the legs of the U-shaped insert, the ends of the legs of the U- shaped central portion each being connected by a transverse portion to a said strip, said strips being shorter than the legs of said U-shaped central portion and being situated outwardly therefrom so that a groove is defined between each strip and the respective leg of the central portion, longitudinal rim portions of the inner and outer skin gripping around said strips, whereas at the other side of each building element the substantially parallel longitudinal rims of the inner and outer skin are rebated inwardly and extend parallel to one another past the filling to form tongues at a spacing which is substantially equal to the outer dimension of the central portion of the insert located at the other longitudinal side and for a length which is substantially greater than the length of the leg of said U-shaped insert, so that the tongues may engage in the two said grooves of an adjacent element leaving an unoccupied space in said grooves, said grooves each being substantially greater in width than two thicknesses of said inner and outer skins, respectively.

8. A building element comprising an inner skin and an outer skin and a filling between these two skins, one longitudinal side of said building element being provided with an insert manufactured from synthetic material having poor heat conductivity and consisting of a broad central portion of U-shaped cross section and two strips substantially parallel to the legs of the U-shaped insert the ends of the legs of the U-shaped central portion each being connected by a transverse portion to a said strip, said strips being shorter than the legs of said U-shaped central portion and being situated outwardly therefrom so that a groove is defined between each strip and the respective leg of the central portion, longitudinal rim portions of the inner and outer skin gripping around said strips, whereas at the other side of each building element the substantially parallel longitudinal rims of the inner and outer skin are rebated inwardly and extend parallel to one another past the filling to form tongues at a spacing which is substantially equal to the outer dimension of the central portion of the insert located at the other longitudinal side and for a length which is substantially greater than the length of the leg of said U-shaped insert, so that the tongues may engage in the two said grooves of an adjacent element leaving an unoccupied space in said grooves, said grooves each being substantially greater in width than two thicknesses of said inner and outer skins, respectively.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,831,281 11/1931 Young 52-578 1,951,778 3/1934 Snead 52-578 2,009,056 7/ 1935 Schatfert 52-578 2,069,176 1/1937 Budd 52-578 2,316,424 4/ 1943 Hasenburger 52-578 3,224,155 12/ 1965 Rook 52-489 FOREIGN PATENTS 155,144 1954 Australia. 405,352 1909 France. 262,934 1913 Germany. 90,583 1937 Sweden.

HENRY C. SUTHERLAND, Primary Examiner. ROBERT A. STENZEL, Assistant Examiner. 

